The WTF Bach Podcast

This episode was inspired by my recent discovery and purchase of an Encyclopedia Britannica. It's a fascinating collection of knowledge and I highly recommend finding some volumes and reading them. This is the Bach article appearing in the EB from as early as 1926 even until the 1960s, written by D.F. Tovey. We also listen to fugue BWV 959, very early, very wild, very W.T.F. in unequal temperament. More episodes on the way! Spread the love!--LINKS:The text of the Borges story I mentionedDonald Francis Tovey (author of the article I read)The archived scan of a 1926 Encyclopedia Britannica volume containing, "Bach, J.S.Homepage of the EB: https://www.britannica.com--Support us:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach Complaints? Confusions?Write us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

More than simply, “in tune” or “out of tune” a temperament is a solution to the ancient problem of creating a circle out of a spiral. By the time Bach had his shake at this problem, the musical world had advanced far enough, setting the stage for his great mind to create a well-tempered solution that allowed him to compose in all 24 keys. Not all keys sound the same in the vast majority of temperaments, in fact, in only our modern equal-tempered one do we find all keys equal. Does our insistence on this system destroy the whole point of temperament? Or is it the most perfect arrangement of tones? Plus: -Actually listen to a pythagorean comma, the root of the problem...-The circle of (pure) fifths-Bach chorales in different temperaments-The Art of Fugue, 6th fugue in a funky temperament Try the frequencies experiment yourself! Pull up multiple windows on: https://onlinetonegenerator.com Support us:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach Complaints? Confusions? Want to sponsor us?Write us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com  Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

How much more famous can music be than that one Prelude in C?The Prelude BWV 846, the first prelude in the Well-Tempered Clavier, is heard everywhere, but why? How? What purpose could such a piece have served in Bach's day?We discuss two early, shorter versions of the prelude, and one erroneous version with an inauthentic bar (the 'Schwenke measure' - be on the look out if your copy has 36 bars and not 35!)Answering, "How has this prelude influenced musicians even today?" we explore modern versions by John K. Stone, Elaine Comparone, my challenge to Brad Mehldau, and invert this prelude (and a few others) note for note to hear the 'photo negative'. Links:'Jesu Joy' in a Japanese Forest (Cell Phone Ad)John K. Stone's 'Fantasy on a Bach Prelude'Elaine Comparone's version of the same prelude As always: Thank you for listening!Support us:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach Got suggestions? Complaints? Confusions? Want to sponsor an episode?Write us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

It started with an Instagram Post, but like all questions about Bach, to answer the question of Bach's 'longest' piece required posing further questions:  Longest how? Minutes? In terms of Measures? In terms of the longest single piece on a concert? ...wait, what is a 'piece' anyhow? Does one of the passions count as a single piece? What about just the amount of notes? You may be surprised to hear the answers... or maybe you've know the answer in your heart of hearts all along.Follow Evan on Instagram for interactive content: www.instagram.com/WTFBachSupport us:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach Suggestions? Want to sponsor an episode?Write us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

A brief analysis of Cantata 147, Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV147. Such a large piece of music, it gets it own episode. Will I continue to devote episodes to the cantatas? Read the bottom of the description. The work is famous for, if nothing else, the two chorales that we know as 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.' As it was suggested by a listener, this is part two of the previous listener's choice episode. --People or Music mentioned:Rudolph LutzJoshua RifkinRobert Bridges (English poet laureate)Wendy CarlosLady Lynda (Song by The Beach Boys)Myra Hess--Thank you to each of you who donate to these episodes:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach--WTF Bach and the Cantatas:These are daunting pieces with very complicated histories, hence the delay in getting this episode to you. As is the case with all research, one has to be rather careful before making even the simplest of statements about a piece of Bach. The cantatas are largely orchestrated pieces as well, for many instruments, which makes a 'dissection' of such a piece much more difficult. Due to their numerous sections, they are often longer in length compared to a prelude and fugue or many other instrumental pieces. For many (if not most) people who enjoy Bach, their 'ignorance' of his music usually falls somewhere within the cantatas. This is all to say, on a personal note, that while creating this episode, I spent some five times longer than I normally would. I enjoyed doing this as everyone needs to brush up on the cantatas, still, as I always love hearing from you, send me a note: let me know if you want more episodes on the cantatas and I will find a way to make these episodes come quicker. As always, sincerely, -e Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

SPOILER ALERT! I split this episode into TWO! The NEXT episode will cover cantata BWV147 exclusively. --To begin your week! Three pieces you requested were: Toccata in g minor BWV915Allabreve in D major BWV589Cantata BWV147 (NEXT EPISODE!)--Please enjoy my brief analysis of these pieces which, in their own right, could take up many episodes each, and THANK YOU for suggesting I cover them. Please keep your suggestions coming! --Bach's Music Floating in Outer SpacePerformers featured today were, in order:Trevor PinnockChristine SchornsheimTon KoopmanSimon Preston--Thank you to each of you who donate to these episodes:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

It was brought to my attention that, yesterday, at the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, there was only one non-Biritsh piece of music included. It was of course penned by our beloved J.S. Bach, whose inclusion in the royal festivities made an impression on me.The piece was this gorgeous fantasy for organ BWV 562, discussed in this episode. Enjoy!The unfinished harpsichord fugue discussed by me Marie-Claire Alain's performance of BWV 562Martin Lücker's performance of BWV 562 I know I said this last time but for real this time:NEXT EPISODE IS LISTENER'S CHOICE- SEND ME YOUR SUGGESTIONS Thank you to each of you who donate to these episodes:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

This week I chose to read experts from the 'New Bach Reader', a compilation book of documents from Bach's life or shortly thereafter. These documents are sometimes letters, receipts, or newspaper notices, but might be a dinner bill for an inn where Bach stayed, or his candid thoughts on singers. I highly recommend this book. Find it here. NEXT EPISODE IS LISTENER'S CHOICE- SEND ME THE PIECE YOU WANT: Bach (at) WTFBACH (dot com) Thank you to each of you who donate to these episodes:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach  Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

Last Episode WTF Bach explained how computers, using MIDI, could help us understand Bach in a unique way.Here then, is a brief episode of four Bach MIDI files, played with very basic computer operations (quantized 16th notes, panning between speakers, mechanical slowing down and speeding up). It's likely you've never heard Bach in this way before. The question therefore is, 'Did you learn something?' --Don't forget to donate to this production:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbachAnd let us know how we are doing, Bach (at) WTFBACH (dot com) Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

How can computers help us understand Bach? What is MIDI? In this episode we learn how MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) files, that is, a sort of sheet-music for computers, can help us explore Bach’s music in modern and novel ways. If you don’t read music or play an instrument, MIDI files might be your way into Bach’s mind. Even if you are a virtuoso Bachian, there will be something in MIDI technology that can help you uncover further details throughout Bach’s most fascinating constructions. Dave (of Dave's J.S. Bach page) talks about the 'art of MIDI'My album featuring 'panning' between two upper voices in Bach Three links to Bach MIDI files:1) https://www.midiworld.com/bach.htm2) http://www.jsbach.net/midi/3) https://www.kunstderfuge.com/bach.htm Don't forget to donate to this production: https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach And let us know how we are doing, Bach (at) WTFBACH (dot com) Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe